[696] Macaulay maintained that Johnson had a hand in the composition of Cecilia.  He quotes a passage from it, and says:—­’We say with confidence, either Sam.  Johnson or the Devil.’ (Essays, ed. 1874, iv. 157.) That he is mistaken is shown by Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary (ii. 172).  ‘Ay,’ cried Dr. Johnson, ’some people want to make out some credit to me from the little rogue’s book.  I was told by a gentleman this morning that it was a very fine book, if it was all her own.’  “It is all her own,” said I, “for me, I am sure, for I never saw one word of it before it was printed."’ On p. 196 she records the following:—­’SIR JOSHUA.  “Gibbon says he read the whole five volumes in a day.” “’Tis impossible,” cried Mr. Burke, “it cost me three days; and you know I never parted with it from the day I first opened it."’ See post, among the imitators of Johnson’s style, under Dec. 6, 1784.

[697] In Mr. Barry’s printed analysis, or description of these pictures, he speaks of Johnson’s character in the highest terms.  BOSWELL.  Barry, in one of his pictures, placed Johnson between the two beautiful duchesses of Rutland and Devonshire, pointing to their Graces Mrs. Montagu as an example.  He expresses his ’reverence for his consistent, manly, and well-spent life.’  Barry’s Works, ii. 339.  Johnson, in his turn, praises ‘the comprehension of Barry’s design.’ Piozzi Letters, ii. 256.  He was more likely to understand it, as the pictures formed a series, meant ’to illustrate one great maxim of moral truth, viz. that the obtaining of happiness depends upon cultivating the human faculties.  We begin with man in a savage state full of inconvenience, imperfection, and misery, and we follow him through several gradations of culture and happiness, which, after our probationary state here, are finally attended with beatitude or misery.’  Barry’s Works, ii. 323.  Horace Walpole (Letters, viii. 366) describes Barry’s book as one ’which does not want sense, though full of passion and self, and vulgarisms and vanity.’

[698] Boswell had tried to bring about a third meeting between Johnson and Wilkes.  On May 21 he wrote:—­’Mr. Boswell’s compliments to Mr. Wilkes.  He finds that it would not be unpleasant to Dr. Johnson to dine at Mr. Wilkes’s.  The thing would be so curiously benignant, it were a pity it should not take place.  Nobody but Mr. Boswell should be asked to meet the doctor.’  An invitation was sent, but the following answer was returned:—­’May 24, 1783.  Mr. Johnson returns thanks to Mr. and Miss Wilkes for their kind invitation; but he is engaged for Tuesday to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and for Wednesday to Mr. Paradise.’  Owing to Boswell’s return to Scotland, another day could not be fixed.  Almon’s Wilkes, iv. 314, 321.

[699] ’If the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.’ Ecclesiastes, xi. 3.